FFA blue jackets awarded to local youth

Dylon Morrison (center) of the Newton FFA was the recipient of a new FFA jacket courtesy of Syngenta and Key Cooperative. In addition, the Newton FFA chapter received a $500 award. Pictured with Morrison are Brent Wells, Sygenta sales representative, and Brent Deppe, Newton Key Cooperative manager.

By Special to the Daily News

INDIANAPOLIS — Key Cooperative together with Syngenta, one of the world’s leading companies, participated in a program through the National FFA Foundation for an opportunity to have an FFA jacket awarded to Dylon Morrison, a member of the Newton Senior High School FFA.

Syngenta issued a challenge and made an offer to its retail partners: Contribute $2,500 to the National FFA Foundation and Syngenta will match it. In recognition of each retailer’s contribution, a local FFA chapter that has been designated will receive an official FFA blue jacket and a $500 check for the chapter.

“Syngenta is proud to partner with many of our retailers in supporting the Blue Jacket program,” said Scott Desotel, Iowa District Manager. “This is an outstanding opportunity to help ensure the future of agriculture across the U.S. while positively impacting local chapters and relationships with our leaders of tomorrow.”

“FFA prepares young people to lead, grow and achieve future success in more than 300 diverse careers through agricultural education,” said Dwight Armstrong, chief executive officer of the National FFA Organization.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 540,379 student members as part of 7,489 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs.